Eddie Winston is ninety years old. He has lived and he has loved, but he has never been kissed.

A true gentleman and incurable romantic, Eddie spends his days volunteering at a charity shop, where he sorts through the donations of the living and the dead, preserving letters and tokens of love along the way. It is here that he meets Bella, a troubled young woman who, aged twenty-four, has just lost the love of her life.

When Bella learns that Eddie is yet to have his first kiss, she resolves to help him finally find love, sparking an adventure that will take them to unexpected places and, they hope, bring Eddie to the moment he has waited for all his life.

My Thoughts:

I knew as soon as I started reading this book that I would love it. I absolutely adored Eddie, he reminds me of my grandad with his ways, so cute. He is a lovely man who volunteers at his local charity shop and sorts through other people’s belongings. When he meets Bella, she is going through a hard time and Eddie just wants to be there for her and help her but what he does not realise is that Bella can help him too, it is an unlikely friendship but one that works really well together. It is a sweet and caring story, I did shed a few tears for both of them but it is uplifting to know how much they care. A story I will cherish forever.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Your cat rules your home and your heart. You bend over backwards to cater to their quirks. In fact, you would do anything for your pampered puss. So why is it that they sometimes choose to ignore you, push your most prized possessions off shelves, or use your furniture as a scratching post?

Luckily, this no-nonsense survival guide is on hand to help you navigate feline parenthood. Whether you need to learn not to take the cold shoulder personally, how to accept those little “gifts” with due gratitude, or simply to understand that there is never an acceptable excuse for an empty food bowl, these pearls of wisdom are sure to make you an elite cat parent in no time.

My Thoughts:
As a cat parent I always knew I would need a book like this in my life, it is a great survival guide to prepare you for becoming a cat parent. Boy oh boy does it. It is so funny and now relatable after having a cat for many years now. I love the designs on the pages and the illustrations are cute but funny. The little paw prints add a really nice touch too. A great gift for newbie Cat parents.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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It’s a truth universally acknowledged that cats are some of the funniest animals on the planet. From contorting themselves into strange shapes, to pulling bizarre expressions, to cramming themselves into tiny cardboard boxes, wherever there’s a cat there’s always something weird and wonderful to be seen.

Funny Cats is here to chronicle these important moments of absurdity. Within its pages, you’ll find:

– A selection of ridiculous cats in high-quality photo form
– Witty captions to make you laugh out loud
– Priceless expressions and relatable memes for all the moments you thought you were the only one (but realized you weren’t)
There is simply no end to the nonsense that cats are capable of – and this book is here to celebrate, honour and cherish that fact.

My Thoughts:
As soon as I saw this book I knew it was for me. The pictures and the captions are just so funny, they are all just so good. It really put a smile on my face. A great gift for a cat lover or just for yourself. I would highly recommend if you have a cat or you just need a good laugh. A great book.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Two women. An office filled with secrets. One terrible crime that can’t be taken back.

Dawn Schiff is strange.

At least, everyone thinks so at Vixed, the nutritional supplement company where Dawn works as an accountant. She never says the right thing. She has no friends. And she is always at her desk at precisely 8:45 a.m.

So when Dawn doesn’t show up to the office one morning, her coworker Natalie Farrell―beautiful, popular, top sales rep five years running―is surprised. Then she receives an unsettling, anonymous phone call that changes everything…

It turns out Dawn wasn’t just an awkward outsider―she was being targeted by someone close. And now Natalie is irrevocably tied to Dawn as she finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse that leaves her wondering: who’s the real victim?

But one thing is incredibly clear: somebody hated Dawn Schiff. Enough to kill.

My Thoughts:

I have read a few of Freida’s books now and loved them so was excited to pick this one up about a Coworker. Dawn is always in work at a precise time every day but when she does not show Natalie is concerned, when Natalie starts receiving weird phone calls she knows something is not right but what is going on and where is Dawn? this started off good and I thought I knew what had happened but wow the twist that comes up shocked me, there are a few other twists after that I could not believe either. Freida has a way to pull the reader in so that you feel part of the story which has a great pace to it. Some of the chapters are short which makes you want to keep reading. I was left shell shocked at the end and still cannot believe what happened. I cannot wait to read my next book by Freida.

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When Carol’s world suddenly unravels, leaving her single and jobless, she stumbles upon an unexpected opportunity: leading a ragtag team of countryside conservation volunteers. At first glance, the prospect of nurturing Britain’s diverse wildlife in the great outdoors seems like a dream come true. However, reality paints a different picture: her office is a ramshackle porta-cabin overrun with mice and plagued by leaky ceilings, and the volunteers are far from impressed with her lack of practical skills.

Despite this rocky beginning, Carol gradually earns the respect of her eclectic group of volunteers, forging a tight-knit community that will grow to become essential to each member. This diverse group spans generations, from twenty-somethings to septuagenarians, with each of them looking to get something different out of volunteering, whether it’s a sense of purpose, a fresh start in life or a tick on their community service form. They also bring their unique quirks and life experiences to the mix.

Volunteer days soon evolve into the highlight of Carol’s week, as they bond over their love of nature, mental health battles, and the desire for companionship. As they work together outdoors, the team discover a simple yet powerful recipe for self-confidence, improved well-being and a newfound perspective on life’s challenges. This journey not only brings solace and new joys to Carol’s weeks, but eventually it helps her move on with her life, too.

My Thoughts:

This is a true story of how one woman managed to get her life back on track after losing her job. Carol becomes a leader, a leader who is in charge of a group of volunteers that help to conserve nature. But there are some hurdles that she must jump through. The volunteers are all different ages and have come from different backgrounds so to see them volunteer is a great opportunity for Carol and for them to better their lives. It was lovely to see how they all changed for the better. I think volunteering is a great thing to do as it gives you great satisfaction about helping others or nature in this case and it gets people outdoors and talking to other people. I found this a calming and steady paced read. A good read.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Inspired by a nomadic “vagabundo” he met decades ago, Mark eschews the fast pace of modern life and sets off on a solo hike 1,225 km across the Iberian Peninsula – from Gibraltar in the far south to Estaca de Bares, Spain’s most northerly tip – carrying just a backpack and a hammock.

Hiking through sleepy siesta-hour plazas, shady cork forests and heat-shimmering plains, the hours would be long, dusty and hot. But, as Mark passes through the many small villages and communities en route, his trek comes to be characterized most of all by the sharing of stories, the true kindness of strangers, and the unbridled freedom of the open road.

Recounting Mark’s fascinating nomadic journey through Spain, including Extremadura, its least-visited region, Vagabond is a homage to the disappearing lifestyle of the vagabundo, as well as a celebration of rural Spain and its forgotten communities. It reminds us of the value of slowing down and finding connection with others, and the beauty that can be found in taking life one step at a time.

My Thoughts:

This is not my usual kind of read but I always like to try a different genre when I can. I am glad I gave this a go as I have huge respect for Mark for doing this epic journey but also for writing about it too. A true story at it’s best, Mark is on a solo hike with just a backpack and hammock, we see him meeting people and how kind some people are too him. It is a long old hike and I cannot believe what he went through, but he is a true inspiration in my eyes. Whilst this is not my usual read there is something that drew me into reading this book and I am so glad I did. Thank you for sharing your story Mark.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work. 

Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

My Thoughts:

This is my first book by Abby, but I thought this sounded a good Summer read. Justin has this unique curse where every woman he dates, the instant they break up, the woman goes onto to find their soulmate. But when a woman messages him, he would of never in a million years realise she has exactly the same curse. How weird. The two of them wonder what would happen if they were to get together, would the curse counteract the curse? I don’t think either of them would ever realise what would really happen. It was a easy summer read, perfect pick me up. It was a fast paced read and one that I would read again. I have never read any of Abby’s books before but I will definitely be picking up more of her books.

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She’s loved by all who meet her. But someone wants her gone . . .
Then 

When beautiful and vivacious Charlotte Salter fails to turn up to her husband Alec’s 50th birthday party, her kids are worried, but Alec is not. As the days pass and there’s still no word from Charlie, her daughter, Etty, and her sons, Niall, Paul and Ollie, all struggle to come to terms with her disappearance.
How can anyone just vanish without a trace?
Left with no answers and in limbo, the Salter children try and go on with their lives, all the while thinking that their mother’s killer is potentially very close to home.

Now

After years away, Etty returns home to the small East Anglian village where she grew up to help move her father into a care home. Now in his eighties, Alec has dementia and often mistakes his daughter for her mother. 
Etty is a changed woman from the trouble-free girl she was when Charlie was still around – all the Salter children have spent decades running and hiding from their mother’s disappearance.
But when their childhood friends, Greg and Morgen Ackerley, decide to do a podcast about Charlotte’s disappearance, it seems like the town’s buried secrets – and the Salters’ – might finally come to light.

After all this time, will they finally find out what really happened to Charlotte Salter?

My Thoughts:

I read one of Nicci’s books a few years ago but did not think much of it. So I was dubious when a friend said she had read this one and enjoyed it. I am so glad I picked it up, it was brilliant. Charlotte Salter is on everyone’s mind when she is a no show at her husband’s birthday bash. No one knows why she may of just vanished but when the police start looking into it all, some people are more suspicious than others. The first half of the book we hear about what happened at the time and the second part is the here and now. Now all grown up and with a town full of secrets can the Salter family find out what really happened on that day? I found it an easy follow along read. Characters were all suspects to me, there are a few red herrings along the way. I would never of guessed the outcome in a million years. It became an addictive read for me, one I did not want to put down. A great read.

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1967: Judie Zingerman is rising to stardom as one half of folk duo the Singer Sisters.

As she and her sister Sylvia tour coast to coast, crowds can’t get enough of Judie’s confessional lyrics. Everyone can see they’re heading for new heights. Yet something is about to push them off course…

1996: Alt-rocker Emma Cantor is playing the festival circuit, with her sights on a record deal. Emma has never understood why her mother, folk icon Judie Zingerman, gave up music at the height of her success.

But as Emma is catapulted into the spotlight as an MTV darling and LA It girl, fame brings its own heartache. Could discovering her mother’s long-kept secrets help Emma find her path again?

My Thoughts:

This book is split into two parts, one is set in 1967 and the other is set in 1996. Judie is in a band called the Singer Sisters, her and her sister are doing well for themselves but is it all going to come crashing down on them. Emma Cantor is playing festivals and hopes to be able to make it big with a deal, but is fame and fortune all it’s cracked up to be? If you like stories about music then this is the book for you, it is a family drama with the need to create music. It is a whirlwind of a story, I liked how it was set in different eras so you could see how different it was in both eras. However I am not a big fan of stories that follow musicians, but that is just me.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Everyone needs a hobby…

Things haven’t been going well for Beth. Her husband has left her for one of her friends. Her fellow school mums judge her for swearing too much and not shifting the baby weight. And now she’s stuck in A&E after her son fell off the climbing wall on the first day of school.

In fact, things haven’t been going well for Beth since Charlotte died – her best friend, a favourite at the school pick-ups and the only person to ever run an interesting PTA meeting. But after being hit by a car while on an ill-timed evening jog, Charlotte is no longer there to help Beth pick up the pieces of her increasingly difficult life.

That is, until Beth discovers that Charlotte left her toddler alone in the house during that fatal run. The Charlotte she knew would never do something so irresponsible, and suddenly Beth is questioning whether Charlotte’s death was really an accident. With a newfound purpose and a glass of wine in hand, it’s time for Beth to uncover what really happened to her best friend. And what better place to start than the circle of chatty school mums, who can’t be as perfect as they pretend. But which of them is hiding something? Beth’s determined to find out. Once she’s put the kids to bed, of course…

My Thoughts:

I had high hopes for this read. Charlotte goes into a alcoholic spiral after her best friend dies. Nothing seems to be going right for her and she does not know how to rebuild her life. After hearing something about the day her best friend died, Beth knows something is not quite right about the way Charlotte died and she sets out on a mission to find out what really happened and to get justice for her friend. It started off ok, though I did find the story slightly boring to start with, it did pick up and the ending was good. The characters are not really likeable but that is what you need in this sort of story. It felt a little too mum friendly too me. Not really sure this book was for me.

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